Mitel Adds Platinum Level To VAR Program

In an effort to leverage the growing base of VARs versed in converged voice/data solutions, private branch exchange (PBX) maker Mitel Corp. added a platinum tier to its reseller program.

Participants in Mitel's Platinum Elite Value Added Reseller program can install and service Mitel's SX-2000 for Windows NT communications server or PBX. The server-based telephone system is targeted at midsize businesses, according to Kanata-based Mitel.

"The way our voice channel was structured to date was not getting us where we want to go," said Ken Dumont, vice president at Mitel. "Conversely, there is a lot of potential within that voice channel to evolve [VARs] to the kind of people we deem to be appropriate to sell our products in the future."

Mitel has more than 400 members in its three-tier channel program. Mitel Elite VARs install and service Mitel SX-2000 networked PBX solutions and Windows NT-based applications, including OPS manager, a management solution for the Mitel SX-2000 PBXes, networks and network cluster applications. Mitel dealers market the company's SX-200 ML PBX for small businesses and SX-200 EL for midsize businesses.

More than 25 Mitel Elite VARs and dealers have qualified for Platinum status in the past two months. The company expects 70 percent to 80 percent of its 110 Elite dealers to become Platinum in the next two years.

To qualify, resellers must demonstrate "advanced voice and data networking expertise," be certified to install other Mitel products, and have a Microsoft Corp.-certified engineer on staff.

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